FFVP & EFNEP Collaboration This year we are piloting expanding our nutrition education efforts through gardening classes and inviting the Texas A&M AgriLife Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program to conduct their 6-week My Hero program. This effort leverages two great USDA programs to help students develop healthier eating habits. Summer Camp department to host a summer camp to educate middle school students about food systems and the careers associated with food systems. Global Food Exposure During the 2023-24 school year, This is the project that I’m extremely excited about. We worked with our Title I our district started providing middle school students with a global travel experience. Last year, the students went to Japan and our Nutrition Services
Department stepped up to make sure the students were educated about Japanese food culture before they left. This year, the students are traveling to Costa Rica and Panama and we are educating them about Central American food culture. Sustainability We know we contribute a lot of waste in serving kids food. We are looking at our suppliers looking for more eco-friendly and cost-efficient ways to serve students. I am excited to pilot on- site composting at five schools, combined with the ability to reduce the amount of lunch trays we send to landfills, helping to create Zero Waste schools. This effort aligns with our district’s goals to be Zero Waste by 2030. Growing a Healthier Future The Food and Agriculture Literacy Program is more than an educational initiative—it’s a movement. By cultivating curiosity, responsibility, and resilience in students, HISD
is nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious leaders who understand the power of food to shape lives and communities. As the program continues to grow, it stands as a model for districts nationwide, proving that when schools invest in food literacy, they harvest far more than vegetables—they cultivate a healthier, more informed future.
Marcus Glenn | Houston ISD Nutrition Services Marcus Glenn is a native Houstonian, an alumnus of Houston ISD. He received his B.S. in Agriculture from Prairie View A&M University and his M.S. in Agriculture Education from Iowa State University. Upon graduation from Iowa State, he returned to Houston and served as a 4-H Agent with PVAMU’s Cooperative Extension Program in Harris County. In his current position with Houston ISD Nutrition Services, he leads the Food and Agriculture Literacy program. In this role, he oversees a team of food educators, leads sustainability efforts for Nutrition Services and works with internal and external partners to serve Houston ISD students.
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